When I was asked to come to work for the Stupski Foundation, I had no idea the extent to which our United States educational system had deteriorated. Oh, I know about the poor inner city schools, that the wealthier schools get more perks, better teachers; that there is always the push to "keep the numbers up" to comply with the school district and state requirements.

But I was certainly not informed about the degree to which we have grossly neglected our kids. This is not just an educational problem, this is a problem with society. How is it that we came to put so many other things as a higher priority in our lives than educating our children? Who are we to judge that some kids are worth more than other kids to receive a better education? What kind of society do we think we are going to have if we don't have adults with the intelligence, skills, or creativity to run our country in the future?

The Stupski Foundation has a goal of ensuring that all students in our public education system graduate with the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to enter college and the work force and thrive in the 21st century. Everything we do at the Stupski Fundation is focused on building tools that transform teaching and learning for these students.

If you have a student in school, don't think that the school can educate your student all by itself - your parental involvement is critically important. Your student has only one opportunity to get this educational foundation that will either open doors for him/her in the future . . . or not.

From my private mentoring perspective, I encourage you to also be a mentor to your children. They need you to encourage them, help them stay focused and to dream of the unlimited things they can do with their lives . . . if they get a good education. As a parent whose daughter graduated this year from UCLA cum laude with a Psychology degree, I can honestly say that it was well worth the time I gave up doing personal things for myself, to work side-by-side with her on school projects through the years. Taking an interest in her studies encouraged her to take an interest in herself and her potential. I encourage you to do the same with your student. He/she will appreciate the time you spend with them and you will have helped them build a solid foundation that will serve them for a lifetime.